Kukla's Korner Hockey

After posting 59 points in 2009-10, Doughty entered last season as the trendy pick to win the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s best defenseman, even though he was only 20 years old. But he was limited to 40 points last season. And though the Kings paid him for his Norris potential – giving him an eight-year, $56 million deal after he sat out of training camp as a restricted free agent – he has only 10 points this season, on pace for only 27 in 77 games.

Teams aren’t stupid. They adjusted to Doughty, and now he has to adjust to them if he is to spark the Kings’ offense.

“Whether it’s on the power play or 5-on-5, it kind of seems like there’s a guy just glued to me at all times,” Doughty said. “It’s frustrating I’m not getting the points I used to, but at the same time, in order to be a good player in this league, I’ve got to find ways to get around that and find different ways to get pucks to the net and make offensive plays.”